GINA

Geographic Information Network of Alaska (GINA)

Geophysical Institute

Geographic Information Network of Alaska

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Meet the Team​

Dedicated to providing near real-time satellite products
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Jen Delamere

Director of GINA

Associate Research Professor
(Snow, Ice, and Permafrost Group at the Geophysical Institute)

  • 907-474-7140
  • jsdelamere@alaska.edu
Dr. Delamere has studied Alaska and the Arctic from the ground and from space for nearly 30 years. Currently, Dr. Delamere is the Director of the Geographic Information Network of Alaska (GINA) at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. She is charged with ensuring rapid delivery of products from polar-orbiting satellites to forecasting partners and communities across Alaska. At GINA, Dr. Delamere works closely with the NOAA JPSS program, the NWS Alaska Region, the Alaska Fire Service, and the Alaska Volcano Observatory to ensure decision-makers have the best spaced-based data products available to help protect the property and lives of Alaskans. Dr. Delamere also has a foot on the ground in northern Alaska, where she engages in research studies that include the springtime melt season and precipitation measurement techniques.
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Christi Buffington

Science Education Director and Program Manager
  • 907-474-2794
  • cbuffington@alaska.edu

Christina Buffington is the Science Education Director and Program Manager at GINA. She is the deputy director for Training, Education, and Public Engagement at the GLOBE Implementation Office.  With 25+ years of experience as an environmental scientist at an environmental engineering firm where she used GIS, teacher of undergraduate, high school, and middle school students, and a GLOBE training point of contact in Alaska, Christi facilitates applied environmental learning and research experiences with students and adults while honoring and centering Indigenous knowledge. In 2024, Christi received an Outstanding Teaching Award from the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. She holds a M.S. in Environmental Science from Washington State University-Pullman, M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction and B.S. in Soils and Environmental Science from Montana State University-Bozeman, and a Graduate Certificate in Environmental Health from University of Montana. Christi enjoys playing in liquid or frozen water: packrafting, kayaking, snowshoeing, skiing, and designing gravity-feed irrigation from rainwater catchments.

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HUNTER BARNDT

Research Programmer
  • whbarndt@alaska.edu
Hunter is a research scientist at GINA, previously working as an undergraduate research programmer. Hunter recently graduated from the University of Alaska Fairbanks with a B.S. in Physics and Computer Science and plans to pursue graduate school in the coming year. At GINA, Hunter is an Associate Mentor with the DoE ARM program, helping process and analyze data from the North Slope of Alaska research facility and he also assists with GINA’s MODIS-derived snow metrics project with the National Park Service. Hunter was born and raised in Alaska, loves running, hiking, snowmachining with family, friends, and his dog, and enjoys playing piano.
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Jay Cable

Senior Systems Engineer
  • jay@alaska.edu

Jay Cable is a Research and Web Programmer for GINA. He helps operate GINA’s satellite ground stations and performs programming on special projects. He has worked with a wide array of programming languages including Java, C, Ruby, JavaScript, and Perl. Jay has a B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and someday hopes to complete his M.S.

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Carl Dierking

Satellite Liaison
  • cfdierking@alaska.edu

Carl is a meteorologist working for GINA as a satellite liaison, developer, and trainer. He previously worked for the National Weather Service for nearly 40 years as a forecaster and Science Operations Officer. This experience provides insight into the satellite needs of operational weather forecasters in Alaska, with a focus on the development of tools and training that assists in the transition from research to operations.

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Edward graham

Student Geospatial Data Analyst
  • eagraham3@alaska.edu

Edward is an undergraduate student at Kennesaw State University, majoring in Geospatial Sciences with a concentration in Information Systems. At GINA, he uses ArcGIS Pro, automated scripting workflows, and web-based solutions to further research into fuel treatment and wildfire mitigation strategies. During his free time, he enjoys backpacking, sailing, and scuba diving.

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Abigail Haas

Student Geospatial Data Analyst
  • ajhaas@alaska.edu

Abigail is an undergraduate student at UAF majoring in Geospatial Sciences, with a concentration in GIS and a minor in math. As a student at GINA, she contributes to a variety of projects including GINA’s website and social media, while developing her professional skill set. Abigail is a Fairbanks local who likes to spend her free time backcountry skiing and making art.

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Owen larson

Geospatial Systems Developer & Analyst
  • ojlarson@alaska.edu
Owen is a Geospatial Data Analyst who previously worked seasonally on a variety of field research and monitoring projects before pursuing a Masters in Geography and a Graduate GISci Certificate from Miami University. Originally from Minnesota, he has lived throughout Alaska and the lower 48 while leading canoe expeditions, trail work crews, and working as a biological science technician. Owen’s lifelong interest in the natural sciences led him to study GIS as a tool to visualize and present data, while his lifelong interest in the outdoors led him to repeatedly return to Alaska, where he works with GINA hosting data and imagery used by the Alaska Fire Service and other government agencies.
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Hannah mair

Geospatial Data Analyst
  • hmair@alaska.edu
Hannah is a Geospatial Data Analyst at GINA. She holds a BA in Environmental Studies from St. Olaf College and a MS in Geoscience from UAF which focused on the effects of snow albedo on summer sea ice across the Arctic. Before moving to Fairbanks, she worked at a Nevada gold mine as an Environmental Engineer. Hannah loves learning new skills related to geospatial data, python coding, and the unique environments of Alaska and the Arctic. She grew up in Spokane, Washington and loves gardening, foraging, knitting socks, and cuddling with her two cats.
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Quinn mchenry

Student Scientific Programmer
  • qdmchenry@alaska.edu

Quinn is a grad student at UAF pursuing a Masters in Computer Science. He graduated from Chaminade University of Honolulu with a Bachelors of Science in CS, and a minor in Data Science and a math focus. At GINA, he works on application and web development on a variety of wildfire and air quality projects. During his free time, Quinn enjoys fishing, camping, and playing golf.

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Jen Schmidt

Associate Research Professor
  • jischmidt@alaska.edu

Dr. Schmidt is a research associate professor of remote sensing at the Geophysical Institute and a member of the GINA team. Her research interests are broad, but she typically uses Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to address issues important to society and the natural world.  She holds a PhD in Wildlife Biology from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, with a focus on interdisciplinary work.  Outside of work, she enjoys biking, triathlons, and scuba diving.

For more information on Dr. Schmidt’s projects see her website or her CV.

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Briana Shaffer

Student Geospatial Data Analyst
  • bmshaffer@alaska.edu

Briana is an undergraduate student at UAF majoring in Geoscience with a concentration in Geospatial Sciences. She spent most of her life in California’s Central Valley before military service brought her to Alaska. During her time in the military, she used cartographic tools to refine datasets and help others understand operational environments. Her studies at UAF have allowed her to switch to learning about natural processes and geological hazards. She is interested in Arctic amplification and its impacts to people, infrastructure and the environment. As an intern at GINA, she will be supporting the NASA Terrestrial Hydrology Program’s SnowEx 2023 project while learning more about scientific modeling and collection strategies. In her off time, she can be found with her nose in a book, tending to her collection of tropical houseplants, or on trails with her son and four dogs.

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Grace Veenstra

Communications Consultant
  • geveenstra@alaska.edu

Grace worked at GINA while an undergraduate student at University of Alaska Fairbanks, managing the website and social media accounts, and writing articles about GINA’s role in Alaska. Now graduated with her Bachelors of Science, Grace remains on staff as a consultant to answer any questions or help with small tasks. Grace was born and raised in Alaska, and recently moved to Anchorage.

Milton Wiltse

Affiliate Professor
Milt is an Affiliate Research Professor with the University of Alaska Geographic Information Network (GINA) group within the Geophysical Institute at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. His research interests are focused on using GIS and machine learning to extract new information from Alaska’s legacy geologic data pertinent to identify prospective mineralized tracts. He has a B.A. Degree in geology from the University of Pennsylvania, a Ph.D. in geology from Indiana University and 52 years minerals related geologic experience. Prior to his current work at Gina he was a geologist, geochemist, State Geologist and Director of the Alaska Division of Geologic & Geophysical Surveys. Before his time at DGGS, he was a faculty member of the Colorado School of Mines – Geology Department where he taught courses in ore microscopy, petrology, geologic mapping, and theoretical geochemistry of ore deposits. During an extended leave from DGGS in the 1970s Milt worked as a consultant geologist conducting mineral exploration in Alaska and the Southwestern United States.

University of Alaska Collaborators & Affiliates

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David Clemens-Sewall

Research Scientist

David Clemens-Sewall is a Research Scientist at the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR) at the University of Colorado Boulder (CU). He has studied snow and ice in the polar regions since 2013 using both field observations and models. He holds a Bachelor’s in Earth Sciences and Chemistry and a Ph.D. In Engineering Sciences, both from Dartmouth College. His work focuses on improving models for Numerical Weather Prediction and Earth System Modeling through a combination of novel observations and model developments. David currently works with UAF to mentor instruments for the Department of Energy ARM User Facility.

JEREMIAH DABNEY

Systems Administrator
Jeremiah Dabney is an employee of the Research Computing Systems group at the Geophysical Institute, and he specializes in Linux system administration. Jeremiah assists GINA with our near real-time processing stack, ensuring data products are delivered quickly to Alaska’s operations and research community.
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LIAM FORBES

Systems Administrator

Liam Forbes is the manager of the Research Computing Systems group at the Geophysical Institute. He supervises a team of systems analysts, network engineers, computer technicians, and web developers to provide research cyberinfrastructure and information technology support for the UAF Geophysical Institute and other UA research communities, including GINA.